The second wife

Hinbird Valley is a peaceful place where most of its residents are wealthy. Tammy Williams has just moved into a circle of six houses with her boyfriend, and all the neighbours seem to be very friendly.

However, one day, Rupert Christen returns after 26 years of been locked up for the murder of his first wife. He has just remarried a woman named Alesha. Alesha is despised by all of her neighbours, and they all have motives to murder her. Everybody hates Rupert, too, because many of the residents remember his first wife.

Then Alesha is murdered, and all of the neighbours instantly point the finger at Rupert as the murderer. All of the evidence also points to Rupert. However, Tammy suspects that there may be something fishy going on, and she then starts to think that Rupert may have been framed for the murder. Although there are many arguments to suggest that Rupert is the murderer, did he really do it?View table of contents...

Chapters:

The next day, Alesha and Rupert decided to visit a local museum.
On their way out to the car, Alesha saw Vera stood in her kitchen
window, staring at them. Alesha looked at Vera, who gave a little
sarcastic wave. Rupert then got into the car and started the
engine.

"Come on, honey", he said, "the sooner we get away from her, the
better".

"I'm not going to let that bitch ruin my life! I am just going to
ignore her whenever she comes near us".

"That's more like it. Now come on, let's go and enjoy our day".

"I'm ready to live my life!"

When they both arrived at the museum, they looked at some of the
exhibits, and was soon approached by Vera when they were in the
kings and Queens section.

"Did you know that Queen Victoria reigned for sixty-three years,
so she's the longest reigning monarch in our country to date".

"That's briliant!" cried Alesha, "she's here!"

"Remember what you said?" Rupert reminded.

"Also, our current Queen only has a few years left to break that
record-three, to be exact".

"Just go back home, Vera", said Alesha, "you're not hurting us in
the slightest. You're not accomplishing anything by been here".

"I'm just here to enjoy the exhibits, like yourselves".

"Seriously, we don't care about you. You're gonna have to do
better than a few facts and figures to get to us!" laughed
Alesha.

"Don't worry", laughed Vera, "this is only the start of your
troubles. If you think this is it, you've got that one hundred
percent wrong!"

Vera then walked away, presumably out of the museum.

"What was all that about?" asked Rupert.

"The ignorant cow doesn't understand why you did what you did on
that night".

"She was in the courtroom at the time. The proffesionals even
told her, it was a moment of madness".

"We'll get used to it eventually".

"And she'll get used to us...she's going to have to if she wants
to remain in Hinbrid Valley, because we're going nowhere".

"What do you make of those threats?"
"They're just empty. She wouldn't dare do anything".

"Oh, that's not a real gun. Well, it is, but we don't have any
bullets in it".

"So, it's just for decoration above the fireplace?"
"I know it sounds strange, but John likes it up there. He says it
reminds him of his shooting days".

"Shooting days?"
"Before he met me, so this is going years back, John used to go
out bird shooting".

"Charming".

"Well, he seems to miss those days - he's even won awards for
it!"
"For shooting birds?"
"John has a perfect aim! He can shoot from miles away!"

"I'll bear that in mind. So, why have you invited me here?"
Eva grinned. "You don't like going to France to get to Spain, do
you?" she asked.

"Well, I'm used to that in my job".

"Of course. Now, the reason I wanted you here, and don't get me
wrong, I'll pay you well, but I wanted to ask you to find out
things about Alesha".

"Things about Alesha?"
"You see, John and I have written many plays over the years, many
of which have starred Alesha".

"So, that's how you know her".

"Yes. Alesha is a bitch, but she's a brilliant actor. The public
are asking for Alesha - she's played some truly amazing
characters. Well, there are competing theatres in Manchester who
are also looking for Alesha, and the other week, we offered her
the chance to be yet another starring role in our new play, Pure
Evil, but she declined!"
"So, you think that Alesha has gone to another theatre?"
"I don't know why, but it certainly seems that way!"

"So, what would happen if Alesha kept turning to these other
theatres in the next few months?"
"Well, after Alesha turned down that recent role, we had to hire
a different, veyr unpopular actress who nobody knew or cared
about, so the audiences dropped".

"So, basically, what you're saying is, even though you really
dislike her, if Alesha turns down these next few plays, the
market share will drop massively".

"We could be put out of business", said Eva, making her voice
quieter as she said that.

"So", said Tammy, "you want me to find out if Alesha is actually
going to other theatres, and why".

"Well, it can't be money, can it? She's got plenty now, hasn't
she?"
"So, I wonder why Alesha has been going to other theatres".

"Please find out. I will pay you to find out why Alesha turned
that role down!"

"What's the matter? What's the matter? Are you joking? Look at
what you've done to my bed!"

"Wh..what have I done?"

"You know what you've done! Creasing my bed up like that - you
should be shot!"

"Beds are likely to crease, Alesha, even when they're made", said
Rupert, trying to defend a poor Craig.

"I've made my bed tonnes of times, and they've never creased.
This is totally unproffesional!"

"Well, it's going to get creased anyway, when you go to sleep
tonight".

"That's hardly the point! I like to come home to have everything
perfect! Just get out of my house, you stupid man!" yelled the
spoiled woman, pointing to Craig.

"No, don't go", said Rupert, "my wife has had a stressful week,
and I think it would be best to leave her alone for now. She'll
come and apologise later".

Craig left the bedroom, leaving Alesha to cry on Rupert's
shoulders.

"What's the matter, darling?" he asked.

"Why can't my life just be perfect, eh?"

"Why? What's the matter?"
"It's always something, isn't it? After Vera stalks us all day
and night, the bed sheets are creased. Next, it will be something
else. Why does something always go wrong in my life?"
"Why don't you just go to sleep. You didn't sleep well last
night, and you need to get caught up now. It's making you very
upset".

"I love you, Rupert Christen", said Alesha, falling on the bed to
go to sleep.